Vail Daily letter: Against Lake Creek open space

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How much more will property values decrease on Lake Creek Road after there is bumper-to-bumper Denver traffic on it? The Eagle County commissioners delivered a three-page progress report to the Eagle County Open Space Advisory Committee. It was distributed at the Jan. 14 meeting.

The report includes the proposed Lake Creek purchase.

Chris Romer, the executive director of the Vail Valley Partnership, held a meeting in Edwards on Tuesday asking Realtors and business people to contribute to bringing more airline flights to Eagle County Regional Airport. The laudable purpose is to bring in flights from Houston. At the meeting, Romer expressed appreciation for second-home owners. Potential second-home owner land should not be bought for Denver recreation.

In the three-page progress report, you will see a possible acquisition of 740 acres of the Scudder-Webster ranch on Lake Creek being coordinated by the Eagle Valley Land Trust. This purchase would be problematic for at least three reasons:

1. There would be traffic from Denver and 10,000 surrounding residents, including 700 trailer homes at the Lake Creek and U.S. Highway 6 intersection.

2. There would be exorbitant cost to the county for making Lake Creek Road wider and patrolling and maintaining such a large area for the Denver public. The cost of Lake Creek property would also be exorbitant.

3. Four 160- to 200-acre ranches could be purchased by second-home buyers. There is a market. I am also aware of two buyers who wanted to buy the whole 1,320 acre ranch. Ranch buyers pay taxes. Also, with ranches of the sizes mentioned, the 1,200 elk and deer on the property would have minimum disturbance.